Using validation theory as a conceptual framework this study sought to better understand the experiences of immigrant-origin students who were born outside of the United States (first-generation immigrant-origin students) attending a rural community college. Data on people who have immigrated to the United States show that immigrant-origin peoples…

This qualitative case study aimed to understand the transfer student experience through the lens of gender and racial experiences of community college STEM transfer students. Additionally, this study examined the barriers that STEM transfers, notably low-and middleincome, female, and minorities, experienced and overcame along their upward…

Can a class assignment covering the reading help students do better in an introductory chemistry class for nonmajors? Two sections of the same course have been compared where one section had a reading assignment that "forced" the students to interact with the text while the other class had the typical homework, quiz assignments, and…

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the perceptions first-generation students (FGS) have of the academic impact of student support services (SSS) received while attending community college (CC) in the areas of student academic achievement, student engagement, student persistence, student satisfaction, and development…

Impostor Phenomenon (IP) is a feeling of illegitimacy or fraudulence despite evidence to the contrary. Most people experience feelings of impostorism in their lifetime, and it has been associated with several outcomes in the literature. Although there is some evidence higher education may facilitate feelings of IP, community college students have…

This study explored the best testing practices for the NC Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) to determine preparedness for entry-level law enforcement officers. The researcher implemented a mixed-methods approach to answer five research questions based on collected historical data from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, the North Carolina…

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative, single-site case study was to identify and describe the lived experiences of first-generation, adult, Latino male tutees utilizing peer tutoring services within the Solano Community College (SCC) learning assistance center (LAC), concerning readiness, challenge, support, and balance as they applied to…

Nontraditional nursing students attending community colleges often have difficulties combining learning with parenting. The advent of COVID-19 changed the structure of nursing schools throughout the world. The purpose of this Hermeneutic Phenomenological, study was to explore the lived experiences of nursing students combining learning with…

The purpose of this study was to explore what instructor social presence factors and immediacy behaviors Southwestern community college students enrolled in asynchronous online courses described as lessening transactional distance. Qualitative methodology with descriptive design was chosen to help the researcher obtain a description of the…

To meet the demands of a growing knowledge economy, North Carolina must address a history of exclusion that has disproportionately impacted Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and American Indian communities and individuals who earn low wages by intentionally creating conditions that develop talent within these communities. This report…

This qualitative study explored the impediments, social adjustments challenges, and classroom experiences of F-1 international students enrolled at community colleges in the Midwest region of the United States with at least one semester completed after their arrival. Through their respective accounts, the participants shared their positive and…

This qualitative, phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of first generation Latinx community college students who shared common experiences that have influenced their persistence in the pursuit of educational attainment. It is essential to understand the process of navigating community college for first-generation Latinx students…

Retaining students through degree completion is a challenge for community colleges, with nontraditional, adult students being retained at a lower rate than their traditional counterparts. Though student engagement is recognized as an effective strategy for retaining students, there is a gap in research on how effective these strategies are for…

Community colleges experience difficulties in effectively placing students in the first college-level, gateway mathematics course. The use of one standardized exam, such as the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) has been proven ineffective. The effectiveness of using multiple measures is not known. This quantitative predictive…

This dissertation examines the implementation of peer-based career seminars as an intervention to analyze career counseling services in the community college setting and delineate potential benefits for students. Highlights include identifying barriers to access, discussing a student-centered approach to service utilization, and implementing…